ARMY
CORPORAL RICHARD ATKINSON'S RETURN TO AUSTRALIA
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Corporal Richard Atkinson, killed in action in Afghanistan on 2 February 2011, was today formally returned to his family in a moving Ramp Ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin today.
Richard’s mates from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) formed a bearer party and honour guard to carry and receive his casket as a final mark of respect from his military family.
Richard’s fiancée, Dannielle, his parents, Ross and Kate and his brother James were joined at the ceremony by Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, Commander 1st Brigade Brigadier Gus McLachlan, and Commanding Officer 1CER Lieutenant Colonel Matt Pearse.
A private funeral service will be held in Corporal Atkinson’s home town, Launceston, next week.
FAREWELL TO A BROTHER IN ARMS
Sunday, 6 February, 2011
Fallen Australian engineer Corporal Richard Atkinson was farewelled from Afghanistan overnight in a moving memorial service at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot.
Corporal Atkinson was remembered by his mates and work colleagues, including Commander Joint Task Force 633 Major-General Angus Campbell, before beginning the long journey home to his family and friends in Australia.
In an emotional and stirring eulogy, Officer Commanding Mentoring Task Force – Two’s Combat Team Charlie, Major David French, spoke of Corporal Atkinson’s cheeky nature and quick wit as well as his dedication to his job and his professionalism in always leading from the front.
“Akka was never happier than when he was on the job and he was bloody good at it,” Major French said.
He described the partnered Afghan National Army and Australian foot patrol through the Tangi Valley where Corporal Atkinson’s team of engineers located the Improvised Explosive Device. As was his style as a leader and skilled engineer, Corporal Atkinson and a fellow Sapper went forward to inspect the device.
Major French spoke on behalf of the men of Combat Team Charlie who farewelled Corporal Atkinson, described as their brother in arms, as an excellent young engineer, a funny bloke, an awesome friend, beloved son, brother and fiancé.
“So farewell Digger. While we mourn and miss you here, others who have gone before you will welcome you to the fold. Travel safely mate, we miss you.”
Corporal Atkinson’s casket was then escorted to the RAAF C-130 aircraft through a kilometer-long honour guard of soldiers and civilian contractors from Australia, Afghanistan, the United States, Singapore, Slovakia and the Netherlands.
Before the official service, the close-knit group of soldiers from Corporal Atkinson’s home unit, the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, spent time with their mate in a private service.
The grief and sorrow was clearly apparent on the faces of these young men who each day search for, and find, Improvised Explosive Devices.
Best mate and fellow engineer, Corporal David Myers, spoke of Corporal Atkinson’s professionalism and commitment to his job and his love of his family.
“Words will never do justice to describe the kind of mate ‘Akka’ was. He would want to be remembered by us with a smile on our faces and laughter in our hearts,” he said.
Christmas Cheer in Afghanistan22 November 2010
7th Brigade Welcome Home Parade
Officers and Soldiers of 7th Brigade are welcomed home by friends, family and the local community as they march through the streets of Brisbane during their welcome home parade.
Over 2500 Officers and Soldiers from 7th Brigade have participated in a welcome home parade in Brisbane on 20 November 2010.
The parade was led by Commander 7th Brigade, Brigadier Paul McLachlan and was conducted to conclude their contribution to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor in 2010.
7th Brigade units who participated in the parade included Headquarters 7th Brigade, 139th Signals Squadron, 1st Field Regiment, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 7th Combat Services Support Battalion.
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) also conducted a concurrent mounted drive past to celebrate their 150th anniversary.
Dignitaries in attendance at the parade included the Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Wayne Swan, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney, Senator for Queensland Senator Russell Trood, Member for Brisbane the Honourable Teresa Gambaro MP, Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick, Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, and Commander Forces Command Major General Dave Morrison.
Operation Sur Gurabe (Operation Boston)
Operation Sur Gurabe (Operation Boston) is an Afghan National Army led operation to clear insurgents from West Dorafshan, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. The operation commenced on 10 Nov and will continue in different phases over the next few months.
The initial ‘Clear’ phase was a success with the Afghan National Army patrols leading the way with their Australian mentors from Darwin’s Mentoring Task Force - 2 to ensure the insurgents no longer had a foothold in West Dorafshan.
“This area was famous for being dangerous, but now we have come here – the ANA and the Australians to change the security for the future,” said Sergeant Rahmatullah, Engineer Company, 4th Combat Support Kandak.
The second ‘Build’ phase is currently occurring with the construction of an Afghan National Army compound. This compound will enable elements from the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police to maintain security in West Dorafshan.
The operation to date has located seventy weapons caches, including a highly valuable 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher and enough explosives and IED components to have potentially saved hundreds of Afghan lives. According to LTCOL Darren Huxley, Commanding Officer, Mentoring Task Force - 2 “Every bit of this cache could make a bomb. Each bomb can kill a local. By locating these caches, we are making a big difference to security in Uruzgan.”
19 November 2010
Trial of new combat uniform extended to Aussie troops ‘outside the wire’
The Australian Government will extend the trial of a new ‘Multicam’ combat uniform following positive feedback from Special Forces soldiers wearing them in Afghanistan.
The Multicam combat uniform is a different camouflage pattern to the current Australian combat uniform and is also worn by US troops in Afghanistan
The Australian Government will extend the trial of a new ‘Multicam’ combat uniform following positive feedback from Special Forces soldiers wearing them in Afghanistan.
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the extension today during his address to the biannual Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.
The Multicam
combat uniform is a different camouflage pattern to the current Australian
combat uniform and is also worn by US troops in Afghanistan.
Over the past year it has been trialled by Australian Special Forces troops in
Afghanistan.
Based on their feedback, the trial will now be extended for a further 12 months
to all Australian troops operating ‘outside the wire’ in Afghanistan.
Mr Clare said the feedback from Special Forces troops has been extremely positive.
“Special Forces soldiers have said this is the uniform they want to wear,” Mr Clare said.
“It also makes it easier for our troops to do their job.”
The Multicam shirt and trousers:
· have elbow and knee pads built in to reduce soft tissue injuries;
· are cooler and designed to be worn under body armour;
· have a padded waist band to make it more comfortable under webbing or a field pack; and
· have more pockets and a stretch fabric at the joints.
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09 November 2010 Exercise Hamel was held at defence training areas in Northern Queensland, mainly the Townsville Field Training Area from October 10 to November 5. Hamel was the first for the newly created Forces Command which comprises about 87 per cent of the Australian Army and involved more than 6000 Australian personnel from Army, Navy and Air Force. Personnel and units from across Australia and contingents from the United States Marines and the New Zealand Army deployed to Townsville for Exercise Hamel 2010. The exercise culminated in a live-fire brigade attack which involved engineers, infantry, artillery, armour and aviation assets with logistic support.
25 October 2010 The Afghan National Army's (ANA) 4th Brigade artillerymen have successfully conducted their first D30 Howitzer indirect fire practice at Multinational Base Tarin Kot. Under the watchful eyes of the artillery mentors from the 1st Mentoring Task Force, the 4th Brigade "Gunners" proved their ability to train the D-30 gun, provide orientation and calculate firing data successfully. The event was a culmination of months of training and practice by the ANA artillerymen and their Australian mentors. The firing practice is a significant milestone in the development of the 4th Brigades capability.
21 October 2010 Battle Group Pegasus is providing support for the 3rd Brigade during Exercise Hamel in providing air-mobility and air medical evacuation support with the Tigers providing the firepower effect with Hellfire missiles and 30mm cannons as well as reconnaissance support. Military personnel and units from across Australia, contingents from the United States Marines and the New Zealand Army have deployed to Townsville for Exercise Hamel 2010. Exercise Hamel will be held at defence training areas Northern Queensland, these being Townsville Field Training Area and the Tully Training Area from October 10 to November 11. Hamel is the first for the newly-created Forces Command which comprises about 87 per cent of the Australian Army and will involve more than 6000 Australian personnel from Army, Navy and Air Force.
18 October 2010 Exercise Hamel 2010 is proving a key opportunity for Air Force to demonstrate its air mobility capability. The deployment of service personnel to RAAF Base Townsville for the exercise has required a number of different Air Lift Group aircraft, flying both nationally and internationally. A major highlight for Air Force came on October 12 when it flew an airborne insertion of 220 paratroopers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, to a drop zone in northern Queensland. Air Force aircraft also airdropped pallets containing landrovers, trailers, and other cargo items for paratroops. The airdrop was accomplished utilising C-130 Hercules from No. 37 Squadron and a C-17A from No. 36 Squadron. The C-17A was used for paratroop and airdrop of cargo, making Australia the only non-US operator of the C-17A to utilise the aircraft in this role.
Complexity the hallmark of Exercise Hamel Soldiers defused an intricate hostage scenario in North Queensland without firing a shot as part of the Australian Army’s most complex exercise to date – Exercise Hamel 2010. According to one of the senior exercise umpires, Lieutenant Colonel Wade
Stothart, the scenario and the exercise as a whole aimed to test the men and
women of the Army’s 3rd Brigade in difficult scenarios with a
large number of actors. In the exercise scenario at the Tully military airfield, infantry soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), showed their high professionalism in an Air Mobile Operation using Black Hawk helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment. The Australian soldiers were also supported by a contingent of United States Marines participating in the exercise. The scenario involved the rescue of Australian hostages from a group of stubborn and armed militia, role-played by other ADF personnel. After a tense stand-off, the release of the hostages was successfully and peacefully negotiated, and as if the complexity of the scenarios were not enough, the exercise has been undertaken during relentless tropical downpours. Exercise Hamel 2010 involves 6000 personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. It will test the combat capability of the Army’s 3rd Brigade, and is the first exercise for the newly created Forces Command, which comprises about 87 per cent of the Australian Army.
12 October 2010 Two-hundred-and-twenty paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, dropped in to Exercise Hamel 2010, the most complex training activity ever undertaken by the Australian Army. Major Giles Cornelia, Operations Officer Third Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, said the parachute insertion demonstrated the capability of the Australian Army’s Airborne Combat Team. “The significance of this jump is that it demonstrates the operational readiness of the Airborne Combat Team to operate in the defense of Australia and its interests,” Major Cornelia said. Exercise Hamel 2010 involves 6000 personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force and is designed to enhance the Army’s ability to fight and operate in a modern, complex battlespace.
Troops from 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment parachute from a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster at Charters Towers during Exercise Hamel.
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